Summary Agri department surveillance teams visit 267 hot spots of dengue in Punjab in 2013.
LAHORE (Online) - On the instructions of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif‚ second Anti-Dengue Day was observed on Sunday.
All government departments took part in special cleanliness campaign and elimination of mosquito-breeding sites.
For public awareness seminars and walks were organized.
Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) also participated Anti-Dengue Day and organized public awareness and preventive measures for Dengue eradication in all Districts of Punjab in line with the directions of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
In this regard all offices of Emergency Service Rawalpindi were remained open on Sunday and rescuers launched Dengue awareness walk from all rescue stations of District Rawalpindi situated at Rawal Road‚ Civil Lines‚ Kalma Chaowk‚ Bahria Town‚ Pir Wadai and 17 Mile to their nearest areas to sensitize public about dengue virus.
The rescue teams have visited shops and residential area to check and highlighted breeding areas for dengue mosquitoes and preventive measure against it.
Similar activities were observed in Faislabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Jehlem, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Melsi, Khanewal, Jhang, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Chiniot, Bahawalnagar, Sadiqabad, Rahim Yar Khan and other cities and towns of Punjab.
Meanwhile, 267 hot spots regarding surveillance of dengue mosquito larvae have been visited by 55 teams of entomologists of Agriculture Department during 2013.
This was said by Ahmad Ali Zafar, Additional Secretary (Planning) Agriculture, Punjab while chairing a seminar regarding “Anti Dengue Day” here at Agriculture House, Lahore.
He added that Dengue mosquito larvae were found at Lahore at 260 and at Faisalabad at 7 places.
Director General Agriculture (Ext. & AR) Dr. Muhammad Anjum Ali, Director Pest Warning Malik Fayyaz Ahmad, Director Agricultural Information, Punjab M. Rafiq Akhtar, officials of Agriculture department and large number of civil society participants were present in the seminar. Video documentary on dengue control prepared by Directorate of Agricultural Information, Punjab was also played.
Muhammad Shehbaz, an entomologist of Agriculture Department delivered a comprehensive briefing about dengue virus, growth, control, different stages of dengue larvae and its eradication by adopting mechanical, biological and chemical measures.
He told that 60 and 207 hot spots during pre-season (February to July) and active-season (July to November) have been found respectively, While during 2011 out of 12961 spots visited, 1898 were declared as hot spots due to the presence of dengue mosquito larvae whereas last year 399 hot spots were found out of 20586 total sites visited.
He further told that temperature between 24 to 33 degree centigrade is most favorable for dengue virus carrier mosquito to propagate its population.
These dengue mosquitoes can also survive at minimum temperature of 16 degrees centigrade and maximum of 42 degree centigrade. Director General Agri. (Ext. & AR) told that dengue mosquitoes can be controlled by keeping the environment dry, clean and free from stagnant water. He further said that use of shopping bags must be discouraged and water pots in homes and offices should be properly covered.
Additional Secretary Agriculture told that Entomologists of Agriculture Department are playing an important role to make dengue campaign successful.
Agricultural entomologists are making concrete efforts for surveillance of dengue mosquito to control and eradicate the habitat of dengue mosquito by adopting different techniques.
An awareness walk was also organized by Agriculture Department from Agriculture House to Lahore Press Club and Thokar Niaz Baig to Judicial Colony. Awareness literature was distributed among the people during the walk.
